Women's Chorale

 

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Women’s Chorale is a treble concert choir (SSAA) which presents a wide range of repertoire both on campus, in the community, and on performance tours.

Membership is open to all female Calvin students who meet the demands of vocal technique, sightreading, and musicianship.

Rehearsal information: Tuesday and Thursday, 2:10-3:10pm

Conductor

Explore women's chorale

• History

  Praised by prominent American composer Stephen Paulus for its "beautiful tone, precision and balance, and artistry," the Calvin Women's Chorale is a women's honor choir founded by Dr. Pearl Shangkuan in 2001. Some highlights of past seasons include performing at the state convention of the Michigan ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) in 2003, a performance enthusiastically received by conductors from all over the state. The Women's Chorale has collaborated with area performing groups such as the Holland Chorale in a concert of Stephen Paulus' music in the Dimnent Chapel of Hope College, and with Embellish, a handbell ensemble, in a performance at the Basilica of Saint Adalbert, and made its debut with the Grand Rapids Symphony in Debussy’s Nocturnes. The Women's Chorale has toured South Africa, China and South Korea, California and the Pacific Northwest, the East Coast of the United States, and Canada.

• Auditions

  Live auditions are typically held at the beginning of each academic year, but it is possible for students to join at the start of the spring semester.  

  Those interested in joining Campus Choir, Capella, Oratorio Chorus, or Women’s Chorale should sign-up for an audition here. Auditions for fall 2024 will be held on August 30th, 31st, and September 1st. The audition is fun and accessible to all new and returning students regardless of how much singing you've done previously.

  The audition will consist of: 

  • Vocalizations
  • Sight reading
  • Tonal memory
  • A prepared solo (worship song, hymn, pop song, musical theatre, anything you love to sing) that you can sing a cappella that best demonstrates your voice.

  Please bring two copies of the music along to your audition (one for you and one for the professor). Please arrive early so you can complete a written audition form prior to your audition.  

  Contact Dr. Mark Stover (mark.stover@calvin.edu) with any questions.

   

• Tours

  Please visit our Ensemble Tours webpage for upcoming ensemble tours.